Improvement in flying targets



E. BREHM.

Flying Targets.

Patented April 21, 1874.

proved flying target.

UNITED STA ES PATENT OFFICE.

nnnann BREHM, OF JERSEY CITY HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLYING TARGETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,830, dated April 21, 1874; application filed March 23, 1874 To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDUARD BREHM, of Jersey City Heights, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Flying Target, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im- Fig. 2 is a side View of the drum, which is hung in the upper part of the same, and Fig. 3 a detail perspective view of the double hook for holding the bird-target.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The object of this invention is to produce a substitute for the live birds which are at present frequently and cruelly used as-targets by amateur sportsmen, and' to embody in such substitute all the features of importance to a sportsman that exist in live game. Especially for imitation pigeon-shooting my invention is to be applied.

The invention consists in attaching an imitation bird or other target to a revolving arm or lever, which arm. or lever is connected with a drum that can readily be revolved in one direction or the other. When the arm holds the target at the lowermost position the instrument is ready for use, and the sportsmanis kept in ignorance as to which side the target will start from-that is to say, as to the direction fromwhich the circle will be described.

. tion were known before, the striking of the target will nevertheless be very difficult.

In the accompanying drawing, the letter A represents the frame of my improved flying target. The same consists, by preference, of

three standards or legs, which are properly braced at the lower part, and connected at the upper part by pivots or otherwise, so that they may be readily folded together. B is a .drumhung in the upper part of the frame A,

its support being partly formed, if desired, by a short brace, a, or otherwise. spindle of the drum B is firmly mounted a lever, O, which is weighted at the short end I), and provided with a double hook, d, or equivalent fastening device at its longer end. I prefer to attach this double hook at to a sec-' tion, 0, of the lever, which may have some spring in it, for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. Around the drum B are wound in opposite directions two cords or straps, D and E, so that by pulling one cord or strap the drum may be rotated in one direction, while by pulling the other cord or strap it may be rotated in the opposite direction. Each of the cords D E has in it an elastic section, f, of rubber or equivalent material, which is indicated in Fig. 1. F is the target, made of pasteboard or other material, in the form of a pigeon or other game, or, if desired, of other suitable form. It is secured in the double hook d by being confined between the beaks thereof, in the manner clearly indicated in Fig. 1; but may also, if desired, be attached to the long end of the lever O in any other suitable manner.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The frame A is placed on the ground at the proper distance from the marksmen. The lever U is brought into such position that its long arm will be vertically below its axis. In this position the lever 0 must be held either by mechanical means or by the attendant, the latter being protected by a suitable shield or breastwork from the shot of the marksman. The attendant then stretches, while holding the lever 0, one of the cords or straps D or E, so as to extend the elastic section f thereof, and secures the stretched cord or strap to a button or other projection on one of the braces g of the frame, in the manner indicated in Fig. 1, in which figure the cord D is shown to be stretched. The elastic section f which is thus stretched has now the tendency of contracting, and as the lower part of the cord D is fastened to the button of the brace g the only means of contraction is leftto such elastic section by the connection with the drum B, which will be revolved during the contracting process. But the drum B cannot be revolved as long as Upon the the. lever O is held at the lower long end.

Therefore, as soon as the target F is to com mence its motion the attendant lets go the lever G, and the spring j, which has been extended, as aforesaid, will then revolve the drum B and cause the lever O to rotate and send the target around. in a large circle, the requisite speed being dependent upon the style and kind of spring f selected, and upon the degree of stretching the same. WVhen the rotation of the target has been completed the attendant takes hold of the long arm of the lever O and arrests the lever, and then stretches either the same cord, D, again,.if it has not been entirely unwound from B by the last revolution, or the cord E, and causes the target at the next movement of the lever (J to revolve either in the same or in the opposite direction, and so on, the marksman never knowing in which direction the target will move. As to practical application, I may also add that I propose to have each marksman prepare a series of targets, F, for his own use by writing; his name or initials thereon and leave them with the attendant, and after each revolution the target that was connected with the lever G is withdrawn therefrom by the attendant and another one substituted, so that finally all the parties may, by examining their respective targets, be able to estimate their respective degrees of skill. For the purpose of automatically securing the lever C after each revolution in the position necessary for starting another revolution, I prefer to at tach to the brace g a double incline, h, shown in Fig. 1, which has a recess in its middle to slightly spring it out of the recess in h and allow it to rotate once more. I believe that by introducing this invention into general use I will do much toward preventing unnecessary cruelty to harmless animals without taking anything from the excitement and interest of lawful sport.

I claim as my invention- 1. The lever 0 arranged to carry the target F, and combined with the drum B and with the cords or straps D E, which have elastic sect-ions ff in them, substantially for operation as described.

2. The lever O of a flying target provided with a springing section, e, and with the double hook d, or other fastening device, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The double incline it having the recess in the middle and attached to the brace g of the frame A of a flying target, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

EDUARD BREHM.

Vitnesses E. O. \VEBB, CHAS. Ran'rrre. 

